ANALYSIS | The bitter irony of the ANC suspending Mervyn Dirks

The ANC suspending the often-crude MP Mervyn Dirks for doing his job is not only a bitter irony, but it is also telling of how the party views its MPs' role in Parliament, writes parliamentary reporter Jan Gerber.

People who have kept a close eye on Parliament the past seven years or so wouldn't have been too surprised to learn that the ANC has finally suspended its MP Mervyn Dirks.